This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 8 without losing anything. For example, desktop apps.

How to Repair Install Windows 8 and 8.1 without Losing Anything​

Information

Windows 8 introduced the option to refresh and reset your PC to repair or reinstall Windows 8 with as needed. These new features are great for what they are intended for, but there are some drawbacks to them.

When you reset your PC, it will basically give you a clean install (retail) or factory recovery (preinstalled OEM) of Windows 8 afterwards. You will lose everything from your current Windows 8 installation.

When you refresh your PC, this basically repairs Windows 8 by reinstalling it while keeping your files, Store apps, most of your settings, etc..... However, all installed 3rd party desktop apps will be removed. If you like, you could create a custom refresh image to not lose anything, but this will require creating new custom refresh images every so often to keep it updated to not lose anything since the last image was created.

This tutorial will show you how to do a repair install (aka: in-place upgrade install) to fix your currently installed Windows 8 without losing anything. For example, desktop apps.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do a repair install of Windows 8.

8. If this is for Windows 8 Enterprise, then click/tap on Install now. (see screenshot below)

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9. If prompted, select (dot) Download and install updates, and click/tap on Next (Windows 8/8.1 or Windows 8/8.1 Pro). (see screenshots below)NOTE: If any updates are found, then they will be installed, and installation will restart and continue on to step 10.

The product key you enter must match what you are installing, or it will not work.

If you have a Windows 8 product key with Windows 8 installed, then you are good.

If you have a Windows 8.1 product key with Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update installed, then you are good.

If you have a Windows 8 product key with Windows 8.1 or Windows 8.1 Update installed, then you would need to enter a generic key below to install with, and change the product key later on in step 24 below to activate with your Windows 8 key instead.

If you have Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8. Enterprise, or Windows 8.1 Update Enterprise installed, then you would need to change the product key later on in step 24 below to activate since Enterprise editions do not ask to enter a key at this step.

12. If this is for Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, then select (dot) Keep Windows settings, personal files, and apps, click/tap on Next, and go to step 14 below. (see screenshot below)

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13. If this is for Windows 8 Enterprise, then click/tap on Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications. (see screenshot below)

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14. Windows 8 will now check for compatibility issues to see if you'll need to do anything to get your PC ready for Windows 8. If anything is found, you will need to take care of them before continuing. (see screenshot below)

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15. If this is for Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro and no issues were found from step 14 above, then click/tap on Install. (see screenshot below)

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16. Windows 8 will now start to install. The computer will restart a few times during this. (see screenshots below)NOTE:This will take a while to finish.

24. If you have an Enterprise edition or needed to use a generic key to install with from step 10 above, then you will need to change the product key to be able to enter the product key and activate it. (see screenshots below)

My Computer

Administrator

I don't have a pre-installed OEM version of Windows 8 to test with, but it should work the same as it did with Windows 7 to be able to use a retail ISO/DVD/USB of the same pre-installed OEM edition of Windows 8 to do the repair install with.

New Member

My Computer

Active Member

I don't have a pre-installed OEM version of Windows 8 to test with, but it should work the same as it did with Windows 7 to be able to use a retail ISO/DVD/USB of the same pre-installed OEM edition of Windows 8 to do the repair install with.

I was wondering because I've seen errors on here (eg. the one I've quoted below) where people have downloaded the ISO and found it doesn't work with OEM installs. This suggests to me that the downloadable ISO (for folks upgrading from Windows 7 etc.) might not work to Repair with an OEM Product Key?

Okay I started the process as you explained, got only up to the part to enter in my product key and getting an error of "This Product Key cannot be used to install a retail version of Windows 8" I'm guessing this maybe because of this being a retail version of Windows and probably using a OEM copy. Any ideas?

My Computer

Administrator

Yeah, it's not looking like you can use a factory OEM product key with a retail ISO. However, I'm not sure if this may just be an isolated case or a mistake was made though. Since it was a preinstalled Windows 8, the product key should have been embedded in the BIOS/UEFI firmware and entered automatically during installation. Time will tell as more people report their results.

New Member

Hi,thanks you very much for this wonderful tutorial! I need advice because when i arrive at the step 12 I've only two choices. the choice 2 or 3.of course i want to choose the choice 1. do you have any idea why i haven't this choice. i have a upgrade dvd from win 7. thanks for your helps. Georges.

Administrator

You will not be able to do a repair install of Windows 8 with a Windows 7 upgrade DVD. You must have a Windows 8 Pro installation DVD, USB, or ISO file to be able to with your Windows 8 Pro installation instead. I'm assuming you mean that you have a Windows 8 upgrade DVD you are using though.

You might see if you may be able to download a Windows 8 ISO using the method in the tutorial below to see if you may be able to use it to do a repair install with instead.

New Member

Hello again,
I've tryed your method to burn iso from esd folder with your tool but impossible to have the choice 1. Finally, though i don't like trivial method i have do a refresh of my windows 8... Of course i had all iso of my programs on other hdd and my licences. Keys. But really i would like to understand why i could not obtain this option... Cordially, Georges

Member

Thanks for the tutorial. I'm running Win 8 Pro w/ media pack (x64) and am trying to do an in-place install (repair), keeping everything. I've tried twice now from my Administrator account, but at Step 12, Choose What to Keep, I'm only getting the bottom two choices, not the "Keep Windows settings,..." The first time I used a backup installation DVD (iso), mounted it, copied over the files to a desktop folder and ran setup from there. The second time I used the original Win 8 disk, which includes Win 8 and Win 8 Pro, and ran setup directly from the CD. What am I missing? Thanks,

Member

Thanks! Does the "go back to Win 8 Pro" sequence need to be run from the Administrator account with anti-malware apps killed? Nothing is stated, since much of the process looks the same as the repair install, it's worth asking.

New Member

Hi
I am also having the same issue as other have had with this repair install.
I get to step 12 and only have two options, keep personal files only or nothing.
I installed Windows 8 clean from a MS Win 8 Pro ISO provided to me as a MS partner and I am using the same ISO to attempt the repair install.
Has anyone got any further in discovering the conditions in which the 'keep Windows settings, personal files and apps' option will not get shown?